What would be a good CPU/MB/RAM/Video Card combo for around $600

[alimoalem]

i'm not sure what's going on with prey but 36fps is good...there are disagreements on this but anywhere between 30-60fps or higher the eye can't tell the difference

 

[simsalabim24]

On which game? That is for TQ. I have heard 60fps is good. 30 is below average right?

 

[simsalabim24]

The game feels jerky and stuttery. Its like an old engine that needs time to get going and then it will react somewhat decently and then start sputtering again.

 

[simsalabim24]

Is BF2142 even comparable to TQ? What I mean is arent there more textures needed in TQ? Seems like there are more things that need to be drawn, variable rocks, flowers, plants, differing lighting etc.

 

[Zap]

Originally posted by: hennethannun
(but if i were you then i would consider either dropping down to 2 1GB sticks of RAM or getting a 4th so you can take advantage of dual-channel)

I was thinking of that as well. Perhaps some of his performance issues are because RAM is running at single channel speeds, making this effectively a dual core socket 754 system.

Here's my recommendation:

Decent overclockable s939 board with PCI-E $100
8800GTS 320MB (in a week or two) $300
Sunbeam Numo 550W PSU $55
sell Antec PSU -$20
sell 1GB RAM stick -$60
sell old motherboard -$30
sell old video card -$150

Total = $195 plus some shipping and Paypal fees

Then, overclock that CPU a bit.

BTW I'm just pulling numbers out of my azz, but they're ballpark. With a slight CPU overclock, the new video card and RAM running in dual channel, I'd dare say that performance should go up a decent amount.

Originally posted by: simsalabim24
The game feels jerky and stuttery. Its like an old engine that needs time to get going and then it will react somewhat decently and then start sputtering again.

Perhaps...

Have you installed the AMD dual core patch?

Have you tried manually setting "affinity" for the game onto one core?

 

[simsalabim24]

Here is an interesting note on my card and the Titan Quest:
http://www23.tomshardware.com/graphics....elx=33&model1=606&model2=607&chart=222

 

[simsalabim24]

How do you set the card manually to Infinity?

Thanks.

 

[simsalabim24]

So which motherboard would give me PCI express and allow me to keep my current ram which after selling the third stick 2x 1gig sticks of ddr 400mhz PC3200 PNY Optima RAM.

Thanks.

 

[engiNURD]

Sorry, I'm too lazy to read through the earlier posts in this thread. If you're getting a new vidcard, go for an nForce4Ultra/SLI or nForce570Ultra/SLI based board. If you want to still use your X1950Pro, go with the ASRock 939Dual-VSTA. If you're getting a new CPU, go with the AsRock 775Dual-VSTA.

 

[alimoalem]

DFI LANPARTY UT Ultra-D. awesome overclocker and stable. it's currently $110 at newegg.

30fps is good. under 25 isn't great. your game has fps max at 60 so 60 is not "average"

 

[NamelessMC]

It sounds like Titan Quest is just a horribly programmed game. Firstly, the 1950 Pro AGP is known to get good FPS with high settings on Oblivion @ 1024 x 768.

It's not really an argument or debate. Oblivion is just the #1 most taxing game on the market, and a 1950Pro for $200 can play it with high settings. (Not MAX, but high as in everything maxed but the texture distance, which seems to be the most taxing feature)

It's either you haven't optimized your programs for dual core (most need specific application patches, like games for example), your drivers or some kind of resource hog is running in your background or you're not telling us everything.

A 1950Pro shouldn't have a problem running any game that's out RIGHT NOW at high visual settings @ 1024 x 768, even WITH 4x AA enabled.

Aside from you obviously needing a new monitor. (I recommend either the Viewsonic 19" widescreen with 5 ms or the Hanns G 19" widescreen 5 ms, both at Newegg for about $185-190) You also need to clean out your system. Delete any resource taxing programs, maybe even back up and reformat, reinstall your games, and make sure this time you patch all your games to make sure they support dual core.

Buying a $300+ video-card and a new motherboard and still using a crappy 15" LCD is a horrible MasterCard commercial if you ask me, and to add to that, upgrading all those parts just because TitanQuest doesn't run well is a dumb idea too. Find out why it's not running right, because it's obviously not your video-card's fault.

 

[simsalabim24]

Well I took 1 stick of the 3 gigs of ram out so that the remaining two would run dual channel and I went into TitanQuest Options file and Turned Off Tripple Buffering and now trying to mimic the same test I get 44-46fps. Although this increase is not noticeable. Its still jerky.

 

[simsalabim24]

Okay good to know! Thanks for giving me a good crack on the head!

 

[simsalabim24]

I also found out that my cards requirments are a 450watt psu and I only have a 430watt power supply. Wonder if that is a problem, lol!

Also what specific monitor do you recommend? I cannot buy from Newegg for some reason their paypal system is fd up and it doesnt work with some customers and Im one of those lucky customers. I can however buy from tigerdirect.

 

[AVP]

Your performance problems are interesting. Since the specs are under what your video card requires, I would update your power supply before you get a new monitor just to be sure.

While I don't own it this seems like a great monitor for the price

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications...tem-details.asp?EdpNo=2606497&CatId=12

 

[alimoalem]

it's not so much how many watts you have but what brand/amps you have on the 12v rail. what brand is your power supply? do you know what model, specifically?

there is no way you should have stuttering as NamelessMC said. something else is wrong. who knows, maybe your monitor is the issue. i am no expert on monitors at all but maybe a 20ms response time is causing you not to get the gaming experience you want.

to test, you could go to a B&M and get a monitor, test it out, and return it just to see if your monitor is the problem

 

[AVP]

Also check Tomshardware.com and look at their video card performance charts. They actually do Titan Quest at each resolution and a x1950pro gets 37.8fps with their system at your resolution. Pretty poor performance for that game overall.

A 8800gtx only gets mid 50's fps!

 

[alimoalem]

Originally posted by: AVP
Also check Tomshardware.com and look at their video card performance charts. They actually do Titan Quest at each resolution and a x1950pro gets 37.8fps with their system at your resolution. Pretty poor performance for that game overall.

A 8800gtx only gets mid 50's fps!

i don't think you read through the whole thread. someone's already linked tom's benchmarks

 

[simsalabim24]

Originally posted by: alimoalem

Originally posted by: AVP
Also check Tomshardware.com and look at their video card performance charts. They actually do Titan Quest at each resolution and a x1950pro gets 37.8fps with their system at your resolution. Pretty poor performance for that game overall.

A 8800gtx only gets mid 50's fps!

i don't think you read through the whole thread. someone's already linked tom's benchmarks

THE PSU is an Antec Trupower 430watt. I thought I put that in the first post, but I could have left it out.

Thanks for your help.

 

[simsalabim24]

Originally posted by: AVP
Your performance problems are interesting. Since the specs are under what your video card requires, I would update your power supply before you get a new monitor just to be sure.

While I don't own it this seems like a great monitor for the price

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications...tem-details.asp?EdpNo=2606497&CatId=12

What is the native resolution on that monitor? Wouldnt having that big a monitor up the need for more throughput from a computer since Im going to have to go up in resolution quite a bit?

Thanks.